Former Players Of Italian Second-Division Club AS Bari Accused Of Match-Fixing

Twenty former players of Italian second-division club AS Bari "are threatened to face charges due to their alleged involvement in a betting and manipulation scandal," according to the SID. Investigations by Bari prosecutors "accuse the players of sport fraud." Italian media outlets report that the players, including current Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia, "manipulated a number of games" during the '07-08 and '08-09 seasons. Ranocchia, who played from '08-10 for Bari, "was accused by Vittorio Micolucci, who admitted the allegations." Micolucci also accused Juventus Manager Antonio Conte, who was suspended for four months at the start of the season for his involvement in another betting scandal (SID, 1/8). The AP reported Conte "has been cleared of more match-fixing, this time stemming from when he coached Bari" from '08-09. Italian media reports that Bari prosecutors "are wrapping up their inquiry and are in the process of notifying 20 people that they are under investigation -- and Conte is not one of them." Ranocchia also "reportedly has been cleared." Conte and Ranocchia "could still be called in for questioning" by the Italian Football Federation. Among those "named as being under investigation are current Torino and former Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet and Conte's former assistant, Cristian Stellini" (AP, 1/8).